Superfood is a term given to a natural food that contains high quantities of quality nutrients that deliver extra health benefits.
Lots of superfoods that can boost nutrition are available in the market every day. These foods work to maximize your health, protect you from diseases, and help to keep you young looking and full of energy. It is just a matter of knowing what these foods are and you are on your way to great nutrition.
What are superfoods?
Now before we get into the list of our top picks, let’s first get into what actually makes them “superfoods.”
Basically, superfoods are foods that are nutritionally dense and packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other beneficial components that provide numerous health benefits. They can be found in both plant-based and animal-based foods, such as seafood, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables.
Superfoods are especially beneficial for maintaining a healthy diet because they contain a wide variety of nutrients in relatively small amounts. These types of food can help to reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases by providing essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that fight off free radicals.
Eating a balanced diet that includes superfoods is a great way to ensure you get all the essential nutrients your body needs for optimal health. Here are six superfoods that can help to maximize your nutrition:
1. Tomatoes and Tomato Products
Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K. Eating tomatoes and tomato products in salads or as part of other meals may boost your heart health and reduce your risk of certain cancers.
But aside from these, some of the most important nutrients found in tomatoes include B vitamins, beta-carotene, folate, lycopene, manganese and zinc. Also, tomatoes are low in calories and packed with nutrients, making them a nutritious choice for any diet.
Studies have also found that eating tomatoes or tomato products may help reduce the risk of cancer, including prostate cancer. So adding tomatoes or tomato products to your diet can be beneficial for both your health and providing you with the essential vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy lifestyle.
Tomatoes are cheap, abundant and available the whole year round. They are low in calories, rich in dietary fiber and potassium, and they are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help to protect us from premature aging, some forms of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
We also recommended that tomatoes be taken in processed forms like sauces and pastes, as the body can absorb them easier than they are in raw form.
2. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a good source of vitamins and minerals such as iron and magnesium that help your body stay healthy.
This food contains high quantities of copper, fiber, magnesium, manganese, potassium, thiamine, and zinc. This superfood is known to help control cholesterol and blood sugar, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, it is also a great source of nutrition for people of all ages.
For instance, oatmeal contains whole grains which are essential to a balanced diet. Eating oatmeal can help prevent the risk of developing heart disease and reduce the risk of obesity.
Its high fiber content also works to reduce the risk of colon cancer and helps keep you feeling full longer and regulates blood sugar levels.
Oats also contain antioxidants that help protect against cancer and other diseases. With so many beneficial health benefits, oatmeal is an excellent choice when it comes to food and nutrition!
3. Green/Black Teas
Green and black teas can boost nutrition in a number of ways. They are low in fat and contain compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, making them beneficial for everyday health.
These two popular teas have been used by people in the east for centuries. They contain zero calories and they are proven to reduce the risk of cancers that affect the bladder, breast, colon, esophagus, lungs and pancreas. They help to lower your risk of heart disease and stroke due to hypertension. It is also an effective agent that works to fight cavities and bad breath.
From a nutritional value standpoint, green and black teas offer catechins and flavonoids, which help boost immunity and may reduce your risk of certain diseases. They are also a good source of antioxidants, which can protect your cells from damage as well as slow the aging process.
Green tea has been linked to other health benefits including weight loss, improved cognitive function, and better dental health. Black tea, on the other hand, is known to have an energizing effect that can improve focus and alertness.
Essentially, both types of tea can help prevent heart disease by reducing levels of bad cholesterol while promoting healthy circulation. With so many potential health benefits associated with drinking green or black tea regularly, it’s easy to see why they should be part of everyone’s diet.
4. Spinach
Spinach is a powerful superfood that is loaded with beta-carotene, calcium, iron, lutein, magnesium, manganese, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and vitamins B, C and E.
This superfood works to keep you protected from cardiovascular diseases, certain forms of cancer, macular degeneration and cataracts. Its high antioxidant content helps to keep you protected from cellular damage due to free radicals and exposure to the sun. Its anti-aging properties also help to keep your skin healthy and young looking.
It is packed with healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. One cup of cooked spinach contains more than 7 grams of protein and only 41 calories. It also provides an excellent source of iron for vegetarians.
Spinach is one of the leafy green vegetables like a legume, broccoli, collard greens, and kale which are all highly nutritious. Eating two to three servings of spinach every day can add significantly to your diet in terms of vitamins and minerals.
Let us also not forget that this superfood is rich in vitamins A, C, K and folate. All of these are important for overall health as well as aiding in digestion and maintaining eye health. Moreover, it helps reduce inflammation in the body due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Spinach is a nutritious vegetable that can boost your nutrition and health. So next time you are looking to boost your nutrition levels, try adding spinach to your diet!
5. Yogurt
Yogurt is beneficial to your health because it is loaded with B vitamins, protein, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and most of all live good bacteria that work to maximize absorption and the metabolic process. It is also high in fiber and a source of calcium which makes it beneficial for bone health.
This creamy dairy product is packed with vitamins and minerals that can boost nutrition and provide essential nutrients for optimal health.
Yogurt also contains probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can aid digestion, boost immunity and even help improve mood. It also has healthy fats which can help reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Adding yogurt to your diet can help you get the essential nutrients you need while also adding flavor and texture to your meals. With its many benefits, yogurt can be an excellent addition to any meal plan.
This superfood is useful in preventing some forms of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, cholesterol, diarrhea and ulcer.
Yogurt may not be taken by people who are lactose intolerant. So this superfood is great to add to your diet.
6. Avocados can boost nutrition
Avocados are a great source of nutrition and can provide several benefits to our health. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help promote good overall health.
For example, avocados are high in monounsaturated fats which can help reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. Avocados also contain potassium, folate, vitamin E, and other nutrients that are important for maintaining optimal health. Moreover, similar to oats, it also contains fiber which can aid digestion and help keep us feeling fuller longer.
Eating avocados regularly can help increase our nutrient intake and boost overall health. Avocados contain properties that help to reduce the risks of inflammatory diseases, diabetes and heart problems.
Remember that avocados are seasonal fruits and they are available only during certain months of the year. They are rich in carotenoids, fiber, folate, vitamins B, C, iron and protein. They help to boost good cholesterol levels and keep your cells protected from the damage caused by free radicals.
Maintaining health need not be expensive. Many superfoods are cheap and abundant, and they work well to keep you healthy, energized and protected.
We hope that you learned a lot of healthy tips from this blog post. If you would like to explore more, feel free to visit our food blog posts.
